# NTSB LAX93LA152: Piper PA-28-161, N8120H, Vacaville, CA, March 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 1993, 19:00 local (Mar 16, 1993, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Vacaville, CA - Coordinates: 38.409046, -122.010162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4090&lon=-122.0102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28358 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28358/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA152 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - light condition - bright night ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS IN A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. HE SAID HE CHANGED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMP. HE REPORTED THE ENGINE THEN LOST TOTAL POWER. HE SAID HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A VALLEY. DURING THE TERMINATION OF THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN FOLLOWED BY THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL AND FUSELAGE. THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR SUPERVISING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REPORTED THAT NO PRE EXISTING DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE EXAMINATION AND THAT THE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL A REASON FOR THE REPORTED ENGINE POWER LOSS. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 1993, at 1900 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8120H, collided with the terrain during the termination of a power off forced landing near Vacaville, California. The power off forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during takeoff climb. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The airplane was being operated by Navajo Aviation of Concord, California, and was rented by the pilot for the personal flight. The airplane departed Vacaville about 1845 hours and was destined for Concord, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. An FAA safety inspector examined the airplane on scene and interviewed the pilot. The pilot said he was in a climb after takeoff at an altitude of about 1900 feet mean sea level when the engine began to sputter and lose power. He said that he changed fuel tanks and turned on the fuel pump. He reported the engine lost total power. He said he made a forced landing in a valley. The pilot reported to the FAA safety inspector that the airplane's left wing "hit first, followed by the tail and the fuselage." The pilot said the airplane caught fire after it came to a stop. Inspection of the airplane by the FAA safety inspector revealed the airplane's fuselage was completely destroyed by fire. He reported that the propeller was "close to being undamaged except for a slight aft bend of one of the prop blades and heavy nicks on the other blade." He further reported that with the exception of the carburetor, all engine accessories were destroyed by fire. The engine was removed from the airplane and transported to Sacramento, California, for further examination. The engine was examined on March 30, 1993, under the supervision of an FAA airworthiness safety inspector. The FAA safety inspector reported that no pre-existing deficiencies were noted during the engine examination and that the examination did not reveal a reason for the reported power loss. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8120H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8120H-1997-01-13), registration cancelled 1997-01-13, S/N 288016138 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016138 - Airframe hours: 9140 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Laron Enterprises, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1993, 15 hours before - Destination: CCR, CONCORD, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 10 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930315005609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930315005609A), Mar 15, 1993: Piper PA28161, Vacaville, CA, Destroyed. Reported power failure on climb to cruise. Cartwheeled on forced landing and burned. No engine anomalies found. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.